A site devoted to a mixed bag of topics, with an emphasis on professional and amateur sports in Regina, Saskatchewan. We also preview the weekly lineup of guests for the Locker Talk on Access 7 tv sports talk show.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Congratulations to Regina Pats forward Jordan Eberle, who was named the WHL's Scholastic Player of the Year today, beating out Jared Cowen of the Spokane Chiefs. A complete list of award winners is below:

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League announced the 2007-08 winners of the annual WHL Awards presented Wednesday, April 30th at the WHL Awards Luncheon in Calgary.

WHL Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial TrophyWINNERKarl Alzner (Burnaby, BC), Calgary Hitmen

The Riders selected Central Florida defensive lineman Keith Shologan, a product of Spruce Grove, Alberta with their first pick - fourth overall. Shologan could be a long-term project, as he has signed a free agent contract with the NFL's San Diego Chargers. So, it's doubtful he'll be in training camp with the Riders. At least not this year.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats did the expected, and selected U of S safety Dylan Barker - from Moose Jaw - with the first overall pick. U of R Ram offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte was selected sixth overall by Winnipeg. Regina product Paul Woldu - a defensive back with the U of S - was picked by Montreal in the 5th round.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

For those of us who spend entirely too much time agonizing over the results of games people play, this article is a terrific reminder of the positive impact sports can have on people's lives. This story is absolutely heart-warming.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Calgary, AB. - It is with great sadness the Western Hockey League today announced that Ed Chynoweth, WHL Chairman of the Board and President of the Kootenay Ice Hockey Club, passed away this morning in Calgary.

Born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Chynoweth, 66, was the driving force behind the growth and development of Major Junior Hockey throughout Canada over the past four decades. Chynoweth’s career in both the WHL and the Canadian Hockey League spanned 37 years. He was appointed President of the WHL in 1972 and held that position for 23 years before becoming the majority owner of a WHL expansion franchise in Edmonton in 1996. The franchise relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia in 1998.

Chynoweth also played a major role in the game at the national level, serving as President of the CHL for 20 years from 1975 – 1995. During his tenure as CHL President, Chynoweth was instrumental in forming the partnership between CHL and Hockey Canada in 1981 to oversee Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team. The Hockey Canada and CHL partnership led to the formation of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and Canada’s dominance in International Hockey at the junior level.

Chynoweth, the WHL Chairman of the Board until his passing, has served in this capacity on two separate occasions since 1996 and also has served as a member of the CHL Board of Directors.

“The WHL and the entire Canadian hockey community have lost a great leader today in Ed Chynoweth”, commented WHL Commissioner, Ron Robison. “The success the WHL and our Member Clubs are experiencing today is a direct result of the vision and leadership Ed Chynoweth provided to this League over the past 37 years.”

As President of the Kootenay Ice, Chynoweth together with his son Jeff, who is Vice-President and General Manager, have operated one of the most successful franchises in the WHL, having recorded the top winning percentage in the WHL over the past 10 years. The Kootenay Ice captured the WHL Championship twice in 2000 and 2002, and went on to win the Memorial Cup National Championship in Guelph in 2002.

Ed’s son Dean was a defenseman with the Medicine Hat Tigers when they won back to back Memorial Cup Championships in 1987 and 1988. In his capacity as CHL President in 1988, Ed had the privilege of presenting his son Dean, as Captain of the Tigers, the Memorial Cup. Dean is enjoying a successful WHL career currently serving as General Manager and Head Coach of the Swift Current Broncos.

Ed is also survived by his wife Linda of 45 years. Ed and Linda have resided in Calgary since 1976. Prior to moving to Calgary with the transfer of the WHL headquarters, Ed and Linda resided in Saskatoon.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced later this week.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Here's my contribution to this week's edition of the Regina Pats' weekly e-newsletter. I suspect there won't be any more contributions until just before the start of the 2008/09 season.

Future looks promising for the Pats

Undoubtedly, a sense of disappointment still exists over the Regina Pats’ early exit from the WHL playoffs. The Pats, who finished atop the East Division standings in the regular season, were knocked off in six games by Swift Current in the conference quarterfinals. The abrupt ending was certainly disappointing, but shouldn’t negate the many positive steps taken during the 2007/08 campaign.

The Pats, despite having only two 20-goal scorers on the roster, still recorded 44 wins and 94 points in the regular season. Using a scoring-by-committee approach, Regina captured its first division pennant in a decade.

To generate more offense, the Pats will look to returning players like Michael MacAngus and Brett Leffler to increase their point production next season. Rookie Jordan Weal is expected to contribute immediately, after dominating the B.C. major midget league this season. And, it’s likely at least one goaltender will be traded prior to training camp for some scoring help. As it stands, returnees Linden Rowat and Jeff Bosch will be joined in a crowded crease by newcomers Damien Ketlo and Derek Tendler.

Leading the team offensively this season was second year sniper Jordan Eberle, who scored 42 goals and 75 points in 70 games. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest Eberle could pot 50 goals in his 18-year old season in 2008/09. For the third consecutive season he’ll work with a new set-up man, as centre Tim Kraus has graduated, along with fellow 20-year olds J.D. Watt and Ryan Bender.

Eberle’s disappointment in being eliminated from the playoffs was diminished somewhat by an invitation to play for Team Canada in the World under-18 championship, currently underway in Russia. When we ended the season that was a bitter disappointment but it's nice to know your hockey isn't done for the year," Eberle told the Regina Leader-Post.

Eberle is joined on the national team roster by Pats defenceman Colten Teubert, who has built a strong bond with his high-scoring teammate over the past two years. "It's always a pleasure to play with that little guy," Teubert said to the Leader-Post. "Like I always say, he'll score the goals and I'll try to keep them out of our net. I think it's the hardest thing in the world to get us apart from each other. I wouldn't be surprised if we got drafted to the same NHL team. We're always together."

Indeed, both players expect to be drafted in the first three rounds of this summer’s NHL entry draft. Some observers expect Teubert will be a first-round selection, while Eberle’s name will be called soon after, perhaps early in the second round.

In the meantime, Pats General Manager Brent Parker – who has already endorsed Head Coach Curtis Hunt for at least another season – is left to make plans for next season’s edition of the Pats. And, despite the graduation of several key performers – a list that will likely include captain Logan Pyett – Parker doesn’t believe his team will slide down the East Division standings.

"Our expectations don't change," Parker insisted to the Leader-Post. "We want to have success every year and we'll start training camp with the same intentions, to try to compete for a division championship and move forward. We'll be a little younger than we were this year. Our team speed will be a little bit better. It certainly isn't a rebuilding year -- I wouldn't look at it that way -- but it's a bit of a transition year. We have a lot of prospects that are ready to play."

Exactly how ready those prospects are, and whether the returning players can elevate their games, will determine if the 2008/09 Regina Pats will once again contend for a WHL championship. Certainly, the fans who helped set a franchise attendance record this past season expect nothing less.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Sorry for the lack of content, but it's been a busy week and I just haven't been all that inspired. But, if you have any suggestions for topics, let me know. In the meantime, here's the lineup for this week's show, airing tonight at 6 p.m. and tomorrow at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7. Apparently it also airs Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Who knew? Obviously not me!